What happened
Approximately ten minutes following its departure from Loja Airport, an aircraft operating under the dual registration FAE683 and HC-AUE was traversing mountainous terrain at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Despite the presence of favorable weather conditions during the cruise phase, the aircraft type experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The descent continued until the plane made impact with trees on a mountainside.
The accident resulted in a high number of casualties among those on board. Records indicate that 34 fatalities occurred during the impact, while 8 passengers sustained serious injuries during the crash event.
Findings
Official investigations into the accident concluded that the primary factor leading to the loss of altitude was the encounter with orographic currents as the plane moved through the high-altitude mountain landscape.